Jorge Reap is expected to defend his title in the 14th annual Cinco de Mayo 3.1-mile race Sunday, May 1 in Prospect Park with the start and finish near Bartell Pritchard Square.
This outing won’t be an age group race. The directors decided to make it a fun run with the course remaining the same as over the past years. This time there would not be any scoring or team awards. The gun goes off at 11:00 a.m.
Reap, now living in Brooklyn, will try to better his time of 15:34 set last year while most of the entrants just want to finish this fun run.
There still will be prizes in the event. Such as, the overall male and female first place finishers will receive an all expense paid trip to compete in the Modesto Carcon Half Marathon (male) and 10K (female) in Juncos, Puerto Rico, in November of this year, the same month that the New York Marathon will be staged.
Last spring, Abel Rosales Huntzil and Kirt Joseph finished among the top three, each clicking under 17 minutes. They could return under a new format in the 5K event. Joseph at 39 is a top runner regardless of distance in the New York City area.
“So far we have 100 pre-registered, but most of the runners sign upon the day of the race,” said its director Adam Lazaro. The course will be flat but at the same time there is one big hill around the second mile mark. The course stays within the park itself. ”
Various clubs from the New York City – Long Island and even the met area – expect to send entries to the event, on the same day as the Long Island Marathon.
“We expect entries from all over the area, and even from as far away as the Bahamas,” Lazaro added.
Walkers and joggers are also eligible to compete in the event.
“The competitors primarily come to stay healthy,” added Lazaro. “I may do it myself.”
Adam Lazaro’s son, Adam Jr. and their staff will be helping to direct the event. Four years ago, Adam Jr. ran a 3:08 in the New York City Marathon. At that time, he was only 23 years of age.
In addition, the directors will also offer activities for the children,” Lazaro summed up. “Sop, they will also have something to do on Cinco de Mayo day.”
